Black Caviar Wins Again; Royal Ascot Next

Undefeated Black Caviar racked up victory number 21 in the group I Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville in Adelaide, Australia, May 12, and will head to Great Britain in three weeks to prepare for the Royal Ascot meet.

The 5-year-old mare defeated We're Gonna Rock by 1 1/4 lengths, with Stirling Grove third. The time for the 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on turf was 1:10.32.

Black Caviar broke well and took a short early lead in the nine-horse field under jockey Luke Nolen. She opened up a bit on the far turn but never was in front by more than two lengths.

It appeared in the stretch We’re Gonna Rock, who came from off the pace, would take a shot at the champion from the outside, but Black Caviar maintained her margin with no urging from Nolen.

“He hasn’t moved on Black Caviar,” the announcer said as she approached the finish.

Black Caviar, who paid $1.04 to win for a $1 wager, won the group I Sportingbet Classic two weeks ago at Morphettville. Nolen told the Herald Sun newspaper the mare wasn’t her best in the Sportingbet Classic even though she appeared to win with ease.

“The other day she wasn’t the same horse, but today she was back to the machine she was,” Nolen told the newspaper. “Armchair-easy it was; never got out of second gear.”

Trainer Peter Moody pronounced Black Caviar ready for her flight to Great Britain. She is expected to race in the group I Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and Moody said she could race again in Australia.

Black Caviar, by Bel Esprit out of Helsinge, is owned by a syndicate managed by Neil Werrett. She was bred in Victoria by Ric Jamieson.